Chiang rai: Flash floods have inundated several districts in Chiang Rai, with Wiang Chai and Phayao Mengrai Districts being among the hardest hit. Urgent measures are underway to assist elderly residents and children trapped in their homes due to the rising waters.
According to Thai News Agency, the worst-affected area is Yao Mae Tam Village in Tad Khuan Subdistrict, Phaya Mengrai District. The village, located at the foot of a high mountain, has seen water flow through homes and roads, effectively turning them into streams. The floods have also impacted Ban Mai Suk San School, leading to its closure as roads and bridges to the school have been severed. Residents are hastily moving their belongings to higher ground to avoid the encroaching waters.
Officials from the Tad Khuan Subdistrict Administrative Organization have issued warnings to residents about the rapidly rising water levels, urging immediate relocation of belongings to safer areas. Flash floods have also affected numerous villages in Mae Pao Subdistrict, prompting a coordinated response from the Chiang Rai Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, Phaya Mengrai District Administration, Tad Khuan Subdistrict Administrative Organization, and Mae Pao Subdistrict Administrative Organization to assist in evacuations and to safeguard property.
In addition, Huai Kwan Village in Ban Saeo Subdistrict, Chiang Saen District, has been hit by flash floods. Local authorities have cautioned residents living near streams to move their valuables to higher ground and remain vigilant for potential landslides. In Phangam Subdistrict, Wiang Chai District, floodwaters have inundated Tung Yang and Hua Fai Villages, prompting immediate warnings from local agencies.
The 37th Military Circle has dispatched 30 personnel to aid in the evacuation efforts, establish temporary safety zones, and create access routes to isolated areas to ensure rapid aid delivery.
The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, along with Chiang Rai Province, continues to closely monitor the rainfall in affected regions. Residents, particularly in Mae Pao and Tad Khuan Subdistricts, are advised to stay alert for flash floods and forest runoff, and to keep abreast of government updates around the clock.